Biography

ALIF is a Saudi artist born in 1986 and based in Tarout Island. He earned a bachelor's degree in English Linguistics and Translation from King Khalid University in Abha in 2008 and has worked in a wide range of positions in the oilfield sector. He began his artistic career as a graffiti artist in 2014 and expanded into other mediums, specifically sculpture, in 2018.

Alif's artistic practice, which he now pursues full-time, is a synthesis of influences from his surroundings and diverse backgrounds. He is known for his sculptural compositions that reimagine Arabic calligraphy at the intersection of contemporary design and heritage. His body of work ranges from small hand-carved pieces to large-scale sculptures and public installations that explore the themes of emotions, spirituality, and connection by transforming letters into physical forms that are both poetic and deeply connected to material.

Alif participated in numerous exhibitions, including the SARMD Downtown Design exhibition in Riyadh (2025), the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium (2025), Art Riyadh with Nayla Art Gallery (2024), and Tanween in Ithra’ (2021). His work has been collected by both private and public entities in Saudi Arabia and abroad, and he has received several awards, including the Tanween Grant of Ithra' in 2024, the Maan Grant of Athr Gallery in 2020, the Art Marathon Award of the General Entertainment Authority in Dammam in 2019, and the City Graffiti Grant of the Ministry of Tourism in Tarout in 2014. Alif contributes to the community by leading sculpting workshops at his studio on Tarout Island and for a variety of organizations in Saudi cities, including Ithra.

Resume

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 Jeddah, Saudi [upcoming]
2021 Soul Nutrition, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Open Studio, POUSH, Paris, France
2026 Sikka, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2026 From the Ground, Alriwaq Art Space, Bahrain
2025 SARMD, Downtown Design, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2025 Annual Salon, Shashai Studio, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2025 From Now to Then, RCRC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2024 Fail Forward, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2024 Art Riyadh, Nayla gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2022 Eastern calligraphers, Desert Designs gallery, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
2022 Annual Calligraphy Exhibition, Cultural Center, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
2019 East Art, Aramco cultural center, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2019 Art Marathon, General Culture Authority, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
2015 Beautiful Dates, Dates Festival, Alhasa, Saudi Arabia
2014 Dokhala, Cultural Sea Front, Sanabes, Saudi Arabia
2014 Content Oasis, Beach Graffiti Festival, Qatif, Saudi Arabia

RESIDENCIES & SYMPOSIUMS
2026 Residency, POUSH, Paris, France
2025 Independent Residency: Material Research & Granite Sculpting, Aswan, Egypt
2025 Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

AWARDS & GRANTS
2026 Grant, Sikka, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2024 Grant, Tanween, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2020 Grant, Maan, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2019 Award Winner, Art Marathon, General Culture Authority, Saudi Arabia
2014 Grant, Tarut Historical Area, Ministry of Tourism, Tarut, Saudi Arabia

PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
2025 Granite Sculpture, Endless Arrival, RCRC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2026 Granite Sculpture, Sababah, Tarut Island, Saudi Arabia [upcoming]
2014 Graffiti, Tarut Castle Area, Tarut Island, Saudi Arabia

SELECTED WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
2026 Workshop, Knife craving, POUSH, Paris, France
2025 Guest Lecturer, “From Concept to Form”, Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia
2025 Workshop, Wood Power Carving, JAX, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2021 Workshop, Carving a Spoon, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia